Evaluating Health Information

Online resources such as web and social media sites should make it easy for you to learn who is responsible for the site and its information. On the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) website, for example, the ODS is clearly noted on every major page, along with a link to the site’s homepage.

It costs money to run web and social media sites. The source of a website’s funding should be clearly stated or readily apparent. For example, the U.S. government funds websites with addresses ending in ”.gov,” educational institutes maintain ”.edu” sites, noncommercial organizations’ addresses often use ”.org,” and ”.com” denotes a commercial organization. A site’s source of funding can affect the content it presents, how it presents that content, and what the owner wants to accomplish on the site.

The person or organization that runs a website and the site’s funding sources determine the site’s purpose. Many websites have a link to information about the site, often called “About This Site.” This webpage should clearly state the purpose of the site and help you evaluate the trustworthiness of the site’s information. Although many legitimate websites sell health and medical products, keep in mind that the website owner’s desire to promote a product or service can influence the accuracy of the health information they present. Looking for another source of health information that is independent and unbiased can help you validate the accuracy of the material presented on a site.

Many health and medical websites post information that the owner has collected from other websites or sources. If the person or organization in charge of the site did not write the material, they should clearly identify the original source. For social media sites, it is also important to consider whether the source of the information is reliable, that is, what is the background and expertise of the person posting the content?

Websites should identify the medical and scientific evidence that supports the material presented on the site. Medical facts and figures should have references (such as citations of articles published in medical journals). Also, opinions or advice should be clearly set apart from information that is “evidence based” (that is, based on research results). Testimonials from people who said they have tried a particular product or service are not evidence based and usually cannot be corroborated.

Health-related websites should give information about the medical credentials of the people who prepared or reviewed the material on the website. For example, the ODS website contains fact sheets about vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements. These documents undergo extensive scientific review by recognized experts from the academic and research communities.

Experts should review and update the material on websites on a regular basis. Medical information needs to be current because medical research is constantly coming up with new information about medical conditions and how best to treat or prevent them. Sites should clearly post the most recent update or review date. Even if the information has not changed in a long time, the site owner should indicate that someone has reviewed it recently to ensure that the information is still valid.

Owners of reliable websites usually have a policy governing which links to other sites they post. Some medical websites take a conservative approach and do not provide links to any other sites; some sites provide links to any site that asks or pays for a link; and others provide links only to sites that have met certain criteria. Checking a website’s linking policy can help you understand how they choose links to other sites and what they’re trying to accomplish by posting those links.

Websites routinely track the path users take through their sites to determine what pages people are viewing. However, many health-related websites also ask users to “subscribe” to or “become a member” of the site. Sites sometimes do this to collect a user fee or select relevant information for the user. The subscription or membership might allow the website owner to collect personal information about the user.

Any web or social media site asking you for personal information should explain exactly what the site will and will not do with the information. Many commercial sites sell “aggregate” data—such as what percent of their users take dietary supplements—about their users to other companies. In some cases, sites collect and reuse information that is “personally identifiable,” such as your ZIP code, gender, and birth date. Be certain to read and understand any privacy policy or similar language on the site and do not sign up for anything that you do not fully understand.

Web and social media sites should always offer a way for users to contact the site owner with problems, feedback, and questions. If the site hosts a chat room or some other form of online discussion, it should explain the terms of using the service. For example, the site should explain whether anyone moderates the discussions and, if so, who provides the moderation and what criteria the moderator uses to determine which comments to accept and which to reject. Always read online discussions before participating to make sure that you are comfortable with the discussion and with what participants say to one another.

Carefully evaluate any email or text messages you receive that provide health-related information. Consider the message’s origin and purpose. Some companies or organizations use email or text to advertise products or attract people to their websites. A critical eye is warranted if an individual or company is promoting a particular medical product or service in an email or text without providing supporting medical evidence.

Carefully evaluate any email or text messages you receive that provide health-related information. Consider the message’s origin and purpose. Some companies or organizations use email or text to advertise products or attract people to their websites. A critical eye is warranted if an individual or company is promoting a particular medical product or service in an email or text without providing supporting medical evidence.